Decriminalization in action: lessons from the Los Angeles model.

Kristen Ochoa,Elizabeth Kim,Viet Nguyen,Oona Appel

doi:10.1017/s1092852919001561

Kristen Ochoa, Elizabeth Kim + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1017/s1092852919001561

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Abstract

Los Angeles County's Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) has removed over 3800 people from the largest jail system in the country. Across various diversion programs, ODR's fundamental goal is to provide permanent, lifetime care for each diverted person. This article describes ODR's various diversion programs, and elucidates the types of elaborate clinical and court-related interventions that are necessary to remove persons with serious mental disorders from jail custody. As Los Angeles continues to build the necessary community-based continuum of mental health care, ODR's model proves that thoughtfully removing persons with serious mental disorders from jail is possible and necessary for the health of both patients and community.

Highlights

That is what we do in Los Angeles to decriminalize mental illness
The ODR Housing program provides permanent supportive housing to individuals who are homeless, have a serious mental health disorder, and who are incarcerated in the Los Angeles County Jail
ODR’s specialized use of PC 1001.36 is funded by the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), and diverts clients who are charged with felonies, have a serious mental disorder, and who may be found incompetent to stand trial if there were no clinical intervention

Summary

Introduction

The ODR Housing program provides permanent supportive housing to individuals who are homeless, have a serious mental health disorder, and who are incarcerated in the Los Angeles County Jail. ODR’s specialized use of PC 1001.36 is funded by the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), and diverts clients who are charged with felonies, have a serious mental disorder, and who may be found incompetent to stand trial if there were no clinical intervention This program, called DSH Diversion, provides supportive housing, intensive case management, medical and mental health treatment, and specialized pretrial probation services. Under the directive of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, ODR created the Maternal Health Program This program diverts pregnant women from jail to community through providing housing and supportive. ODR’s team works across spaces and disciplines to support the adversarial legal process, provide direct clinical care, and conduct forensic evaluations to hasten and expand diversion efforts

Adversarial Process

Clinical Courtrooms

Forensic Evaluations

Conclusion